Waiter-calling device.



W. H. MUMANUS.

WAITEB. CALLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1907.

Patent [55 fir ed Aug. 20,1912.

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W. H. MOMANUS.

i WAITER CALLING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1o, 1907.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

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COLUMBIA PMNOOIAPII C0., WAlHlNdTD-n D- C IlLTI`TED STATES PATENT GFFTCE.

WILLIAM I-I. MCMANUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLIAM J'. MORAN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. 4

WALTER-CALLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM I'I. Mo- MANUS, a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Waiter-Calling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to waiter calls or devices for signaling to an attendant in a restaurant or other public place that service is desired.

One object of the invention is to provide a device which is simple in construction and can be produced at a low cost and which comprises a revoluble case which may be used t0 removably hold a bill of fare, announcement or advertising matter to which it is desired to direct the attention of the patron or for the patrons use.

The invention consists in the several novel features set forth and more particularly defined by claim at the conclusion hereof:

In the drawings: Figure is a vertical central section of the device. Fig. 2 is a simi lar View taken on a line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the signal being in operative or elevated posiw tion. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the base with a certain abutment late removed to show some of the parts t erein. Fig. l is a section taken on line 1 -1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the top of the top-plate of the revoluble casing. Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the outer card holding caps or frames of the revoluble casing, and Fig. 7 is a perspective of the retainer clip for holding the signal in operative position and for arresting and cushioning it in its upward movement.

A base 10 has a chamber' 11 therein and the abutment thereof is closed by an abutment-plate 12 adapted to fit into the base. The body of the base has formed therein a pair of substantially rectangular' openings 13 and the abutment 12 is provided with correspondingly shaped lugs 111 adapted to eX- tend partially between the marginal walls of the openings 13 to serve as a holder' for the jackets of safety-match box holders 13, the sides of the boxes being held between the lugs and walls of the openings 13, which sides are usually provided with abrading surfaces. This construction is a simple one which makes it possible to construct the base so it will serve as a holder for a match box for the convenience of the patron.

A tubular standard 16 is secured in the bottom plate 12 by a screw-thread and the base is provided with a short hollow-basestandard 17 through which the tubular standard 16 extends and in which it is also secured. At the upper end of tubular standard 16 a nut 18 is provided which is threaded upon the standard and has atlange 19. A revoluble case or card-holder is mounted on the top of base-standard 17 and extends upwardly to the nut 18, the flange 19 of which Vconfines it against upward movement or displacement with respect to the base. An annular rib 20 is formed on the upper end of base-standard 17 which secures the case laterally with respect to the base. This case is utilized to display a bill of fare, a wine-list, advertisement or the like, and is formed of separate sections, comprising top, base, and side sections which permit the case to be opened so that the list or card may be replaced when desired. For this purpose the base of the revoluble case or card holder comprises an inner base section 21 formed of sheet metal and an outer frame 22 having openings 23 therein between which cards may be placed if desired. A similar support, oppositely disposed, is employed to form the top of the case. Between the top and bottom sections of the case is disposed the side-sections which consist of a frame comprising angular corner posts 25 which are connected by top and bottom strips 26 and 27 extending around and connected to the posts. The frame thus formed of the posts 25 and strips 26 and 27 fits between the top and base sections of the case and holds them in spaced relations and also serves to hold glass or other transparent Aplates 29, behind which are placed the cards 31. The sections 21 of the top and base sections of the'revoluble case are respectively providcd with downwardly and upwardly turned lugs 30 for holding the plates 20 and the display cards 31 in the back thereof. As a result of this construction, a revoluble inclosing case is provided for the display cards. By removing the nut 18 which holds the several parts of the revoluble case together, the top sections may be removed and the cards removed and replaced.

The calling-device or signal is associated with the article and comprises a signal 33 secured to the upper end of a stem 34 which is guided in retaining nut 18 and has a collar or piston 35 secured thereto which is adapted to slide in a tubular standard 16. A coil spring 39 is interposed between the collar 35 and internal abutments or flanges 38 that are provided upon the lower end, of the standard 16 and said spring shifts the signal upwardly from its normal position, (seen in Fig. 1), to indicate that the patron desires service. To control the operation of t-he signal by the spring, the stem 34 is provided at its lower end with a point 36 above which an annular shoulder 37 is formed which is adapted to be held by a resilient detent 40 which is secured to the base at 42 and has its lower end extending` through a notch or cut away portion 41 in tubular standard 1G. At each side of the base standard and diametrically opposite each other there is provided a button 43 which is slidably mounted in the base and is normally pressed in an upward direction by a spring 44 and pivoted as at 45 to a detent shifter 46 preferably stamped out of a strip of metal and which is adapted to engage the inclined end of detent 40 to withdraw its lower en'd from engagement with shoulder 37. As a result of this construction when either ofthe buttons 43 is operated and the shoulder 37 released from the detent the spring 39 will iinpel the signal upwardly to indicate that service is desired. To make it possible to use a spring of sufficient torce to impel the signaling device quickly in response to the button and to avoid impact or concussion of the other parts, a clip is provided which has an annulus 48 adapted to be secured upon the upper portion of tubular standard 16 immediately below the retaining-nut 18. This clip also comprises downwardly bent resilient fingers 49 which pass into or through slots 50 in the tubular standard and are formed with seats 51 for the collar 35- of the stem 34. By reason ot' the inherent resiliency of the lingers and frictional engagement of the collar and the tin-gers in passing to seat 51 the signalingdevice will be gradually arrested and sudden impact and concussion overcome.

The invention provides a simple article in which are combined a signaling device, a

revoluble case for oppositely displaying a bill ot' fare or the like, and match-box holders.

The device in its entirety can be produced at a low cost.

Having thus described the invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, a plurality of oppositely disposed buttons or keys slidalole in the base, a signal, a stein for the signal, a guide standard for 'said stem secured to the base, a spring torjoperating the signal, a detent for holding` the stein in inoperative position, and a releasing plate for said detent pivoted to each of said keys or buttons.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a base, a plurality of oppositely disposed buttons or keys slidably mounted in the base, a signal, a tubular standard secured to the base, a steni for the signal guided in said standard, a head upon said stem, a spring within the standard for operating the signal, a detent formed of a resilient strip secured to the base and engaging said head, and a releasing plate for said detent pivotally secured to each of said keys.

3. In a waiter-ealling-device, the combination ot a base, a tubular standard having its lower end secured to said base, a signal, a stein guided in said standard and to which thc signal is connected, a spring within the standard for shifting the signal, and a clip secured to the outer side of said tubular standard and having yielding strips for tric tionally arresting the stem..

4. ln a waiter-calling device, the combination of a base, a tubular standard having its lower' end secured to said base, a signal, a stein guided in said standard and to which the, signal is connected, a spring within the standard for shifting the signal, the upper end of said tubular standard being cut away, and a clip secured adjacent the upper end ot said standard and having yielding stripsl extending through said cut-away portions to frictionally arrest the stem.

WILLAM H. MCMANUS.

lVitnesses FRED GARLAND, LEANE S. RUSSELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

